Drawer suspension



March 1959 J. R. GOMERSALL DRAWER SUSPENSION Filed Aug. 29.195

United States Patent C) 2,880,040 DRAWER SUSPENSION John R. Gomersall,Elgin, Ill., assignor to McGraw- Edison Company, a corporation ofDelaware Application August 29, 1955, Serial No. 531,073 7 Claims. (Cl.3083.8)

The present invention relates to suspensions for drawers and the like,and more particularly to a novel extensible-type suspension capable ofsupporting a drawer or the like when the drawer is in an open positionsubstantially fully withdrawn from an enclosure or cabinet.

While the novel drawer suspension of the present invention may beincorporated in cabinet structures of various types, it is especiallyuseful in food preserving cabinets or the like. In food preservingcabinets,'it is frequently desirable to provide a cover orclosure-within the cabinet housing for a drawer to control the moisturecontent of food within the drawer, and it is also desirable that thedrawer be movable smoothly and without sticking into and out ofengagement with the cover and to and from extended and closed positionsso as to prevent spilling of the food from trays or containers restingwithin the drawer. Therefore, it is an important object to provide anovel extensible drawer suspension which is constructed so as to insurefree movement of the drawer to and from extended and closed positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novelextensible drawer suspension wherein longitudinally relatively movablesupport members are prevented from engaging each other with slidingfrictional contact both laterally and vertically in a simple andeconomical manner.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novelextensible drawer suspension of the type including a fixed cabinet trackmember, a movable drawer track member and a movable intermediate member,wherein anti-friction rollers are mounted for preventing substantialsliding frictional contact between the intermediate member and thedrawer and cabinet members while the drawer is being moved to and fromfully closed and fully extended positions.

Another more specific object of the present invention is to provide anovel extensible drawer suspension of the type set forth in thepreceding paragraph which is constructed so as to permit a drawersupported thereby to be raised into engagement with a closure thereforwhen the drawer is returned from an open position to a closed position.

Other objects and advantages of 'the present invention will becomeapparent from the following descriptio and the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a cabinet structureembodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the elements of the noveldrawer suspension of this invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 33 in Fig.4;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the position of thesuspension elements and drawer when the drawer is fully inserted withina'cabinet and disposed in engagement with a cover or closure; and

. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing on a reduced scale theposition of the suspension elements and the drawer when the drawer isfully extended from the cabinet. I

. Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, acabinet structure 10 shown for the purpose of illustrating the presentinvention includes housing means 12 having one or more drawer openings14, one or more drawers 16, and drawer suspension means 18 mounting thedrawer for movement into and out of the housing. A cover 20 is'mountedwithin the housing means in a known manner for engaging an upperperipheral edge of the drawer when the drawer is in a closed orretracted position and is raised above its normal operating level in themanner described below. The drawer suspension 18 includes a fixedcabinet member 22 mounted on a wall of the housing means 12, a movabledr'awer member 24 secured to a side of the drawer 16, and anintermediate member 26 disposed between the drawer and cabinet membersand movable relative thereto. The elongated cabinet member 22 ispreferably formed from 'sheet material such as sheet metal and isprovided with a vertical track or web portion 28 and upper and lowerinturned flanges or horizontal track portions 30 and 32. An elongatedkeyhole slot 34 is formed in the vertical portion 28 of the cabinetmember for receiving a headed pin 36 on the intermediate member, whichpin serves to retain the intermediate member against lateral separationfrom the cabinet member and also acts to abut against the end of theslot 34 as shown in Fig; 5 to limit outward movement of the intermediatemember.

The drawer track member 24 is preferably formed from a pair of elongatedangle-irons respectively having substantially vertical track portions 38and 40 secured to the side of the drawer and generally horizontal flangeor track portions 42 and 44 disposed in abutting relationship. A pin 46extends laterally from the vertical track portion 38 for engagement witha stop member 48 pivotally mounted to a forward end portion of theintermediate member as at 50 for limiting outward movement of the drawerrelative to the intermediate member as shown in Fig. 5.

The intermediate member 26 which is also preferabl formed from sheetmaterial such as sheet metal comprises a vertical web portion 52 havinga height substantially less than the height of the vertical trackportion 28 of the cabinet member, and generally horizontal flanges 54and 56 which extend laterally from upper and lower margins of the webportionj52. Roller means is provided on the intermediate member 26 forpreventing sliding frictional contact between the intermediate memberand the drawer and cabinet track'members whereby free smooth movement ofthe drawer is assured.

The above mentioned roller means includes rollers 58, 60 and 62respectively disposed for rotation about substantially horizontal axesand mounted on stub shafts 64, 66 and 68 connected to forward,intermediate and rear portions of the upstanding web, 52. Recesses 7.0,72 and 74 are provided in the lower flange 56 of the intermediatemember, and the rollers 58 through 62 respectively project through theserecesses for engagement with the upwardly facing surface of thegenerally horizontal track section 32 of the cabinet track member. Theintermediate roller 60 is disposed so that it remains in engagement withthe track portion 32 even when the drawer is fully extended as shown inFig. 5 so that the lower flange 56 of the intermediate member is alwaysprevented from coming into frictional contact with the track portion 32.Another roller 76 disposed for rotation about a horizontal axis ismounted to an upper rear '3 portion of the .upstanding web 52 by a stubshaft 78 for engaging a downwardly facing surface of the upperhorizontal track portion 30, whereby to prevent the intermediate memberfrom tilting "and to prevent the flange 54 from 'engaging'the'trackportion 30 when the drawer is moved to an extended position.

The downwardly facing surface of the generally horizontal drawer trackportion 44 rests on the rollers 58, 60 and62 for-supporting the drawertrack member and the drawer 'on the intermediate member. Another roller80*disposed for=rotati'on about a horizontal axis is mounted to theupstanding web 52 by means of a stub shaft 82 for engagingan upwardlyfacing surface'of the drawer track portion '42 and preventing the drawerfrom tilting when the drawer is in an extended position as shown -inFig. 5. Preferably, the roller '80 is arranged directly abovetheintermediate roller 60. A recess 84 is. provided in the upper.flang'e 54 of the intermediate memberso thatvthe roller'80 may projecttherethrough for engagement with the downwardly facing surface of thecabinet track'portion 30.

Preferably, the:loweriintermediate roller-60 is loosely mounted forvertical movement relative to the intermediatememb'erand this may beaccomplished by providing it with-a central bore having a largerdiameter than the 'stub'shaft 66. With this structure the weight of thesystem presses the roller 60 against the upwardly facing surface of thehorizontal cabinet track portion 32, and theupper roller 80 engages theupwardly facing surface of the drawer track portion 42 and presses thedownwardly'facing surface of the drawer track against the top of thelower-roller 60. Then when the drawerispulled out ormo-ved inwardly, thedrawer track portion 44 -frictionally engages the roller 60 and drivesit along the stationary cabinet track portion 32, whereby'positivelyro-drive the intermediate member at a-rate' equal to about one=half ofthe speed atwhich the drawer'is beingmoved. The roller means 'm'entionedhereinabove also includes a plurality of rollers disposed to-prevent theintermedi- "atememberfrom shifting laterally relative to the drawer"and'cabi'net track members and coming into sliding frictionalcont'acttherewith. 'Mo're specifically, a pair of rollers 86 and 88 disposed forrotation about substantially vertical-axes are mounted onthe lowerflange 56 of the inteiihediate member-by means of'stlib shafts 90 and 92respe ctively A The diameter of the rollers 86 and 88 is "greater thanthe width of the flange 56, and recesses 94 and 9mm 'provided in theupstanding web portion 52 through "which the rollers 86 and 88respectively extend {rerrening contact'with the vertical track portion28 of f t'he cabinet 'track member. In'addition, the rollers 86 andf'88extend for 'rollingcontact with th'vertical track fpdratsn 40j' iofthedrawer-trackfrnember. Additional *roll'er fverticalaxes, are mountedbeneath theupp'erfi'ange 54 of the"i rit'efmecli ate member 'by' stubshafts 104, 106 ar'id 9 8, 100 and 102, disposed for "rotation "about108 respectively. These rollers also have a diameter which greaterthan'the width of the flange 54 and res'pectively'project throughrecesses oropenin'gs 110, 112 and114in theweb portion 52 for rollingcontact with "the vertical tr'acleportion 26 of the cabinet track. In

'fa'ddition, these rollers also extend 'foifrolling c'ontactwith "thevertical track portion38' of the drawer trackmemib er. 1 As shown 'inFig. 3,'the stub shaft 106h'as a relativelyll arge diameter portion 116rotatably carrying the roller 100 and a'reduced diameter portion 118extending :th'r'o'ugh an"apert ure"in the flange 54 and peened over as"at 120 for permeating the stub" shaft to the flange. An enlarged head12 2"is provided atthefree end of the shaft fportibn 116 for retainingthe roller '100 thereon. s'leeve 124 extends from the roller-100 towardtheffian'ge .54. for maintaining the roller in spaced relationshipl'withflange, sleeve may" be integrally 'formedwrth the roller, if desired.The'rrriaihing'ver- -tl:tat--rnanystructural-details may be changed"without -with' the' cover.

4 tically disposed rollers and stub shafts therefor are similar to theroller and stub shaft 106 and need not be described in detail.

By arranging the vertically disposed rollers in upper and lower groups,it will be appreciated that the vertical track portions of the drawerand cabinet track members will be engaged at vertically spaced points sothat any possibility of the intermediate member becoming laterallycanted relative to either of the track members is eliminated and slidingfrictional contact between the intermediate member and either of thetrack members is positively precluded. It should be noted that with thelower roller 86 disposed adjacent the forward end of the intermediatemember and the upper roller 98 disposed slightly forwardly of theintermediate roller 80, these rollers will always be in contact with thedrawer track member even when the drawer is fully extended. In

addition, by locating the-lower roller 88 and the upper roller 100slightIy behind'the intermediate rollers 60 and 80, respectively,theserollers always remain in position for'conta'cting the cabinet trackand cooperate with the roller 102 disposed adjacent the rearend of theinterr'nediate member to insure the prevention of sliding frictionalcontact between the intermediate member and the cabinet track member.

In order to raise the' drawer into engagement with the cover- 20 whenthe draweris moved from its extended position toward itsretractedposition within the chamber provided by'the housing means, the cabinettrack portion 32' 'is provided with a raised portion or bump 126adjacent and-nner end thereof and the drawer track portion 44 isprovided with a depending bump 128 adjacent a forwardi end thereof. Asshown in Fig. 4, these bumps -ar'e -positioned so. that when the draweris moved tola substantially fully retracted; position, the roller 62rides 'up on-the 'bump-126 whereby-the inner end of the drawer trackmember is 'raised and the inner end of the drawer moves with thedrawertrack upwardly into engagement In addition, the inner end of-theintermediate member is raised, and in order to accommodate theroller 76upon upward movement of the inner end -of the intermediate member, theupper track portion 30 is recessed or interrupted as at 130. As theroller 62 'rides-up 'on the bump 126, the bump '128 also rides uponlthe' roller 58 so that the forward end of the drawer track is raisedand the forward end of the draweris raised therewith into engagementwith the cover. "order to permit this upward movement of the drawer-'track relative to the forward portions of the intermediate 50 "itoaceom'rnodate the upper intermediate roller 80.

member, the drawer track portion 42 is recessed as at 132 It should benoted that by' arranging the rollersv rotatable no=way interfere withthe relative vertical movementbe- While the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention-* has 'been shown and described herein, it is obviousdeparting from 3 the .spiritand scope. ofnthe. appended claims.

--The 1 invention isclainiedas follows:

1. A suspension for drawers and the like adapted-to able drawer memberincluding generallyzhorizontal track means and generally vertical trackmeans, an intermediate member disposed-between and movablelongitudinally .of said drawer and cabinet members, a plurality ofrollers mounted on said intermediate member for rotationabput'generally' horizontal axes and engaging said generally"horizohtal'track' means of said cabinet'and drawer members forsupporting said intermediate and drawer members for movement relative tothe cabinet member and each other, and a plurality of rollers mounted onsaid intermediate member for rotation about generally vertical axes andengageable with said generally vertical track means of said cabinet anddrawer members for maintaining said intermediate member free fromsliding contact with said cabinet and drawer members, a first set ofsaid second mentioned rollers being disposed along a lower margin ofsaid intermediate member for engaging lower areas of said vertical trackmeans, and a second set of said second mentioned rollers being disposedalong an upper margin of said intermediate member for engaging upperareas of said generally vertical track means, whereby to prevent lateraltilting of said intermediate member relative to said cabinet and drawermembers.

2. A suspension, as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of saidlower rollers rotatable about a vertical axis and one of said upperrollers rotatable about a vertical axis are spaced longitudinally ofsaid suspension and are disposed between said intermediate member andsaid drawer member when the drawer member is in and is being moved toand from a fully extended position.

3. A suspension, as defined in claim 1, which includes means on saidgenerally horizontal track means engageable with a pair of said firstmentioned rollers respectively disposed adjacent opposite ends of saidintermediate member for raising said drawer member above its normaloperating level to move a drawer carried by the suspension to a raisedposition, and wherein said second mentioned rollers rotatable aboutvertical axes are disposed on said intermediate member in verticalspaced relationship with respect to said generally horizontal trackmeans so as to avoid interference with said generally horizontal trackmeans when the drawer member is raised.

4. A suspension for drawers and the like adapted to be moved into andout of a cabinet, comprising a stationary cabinet member including agenerally vertical track portion and generally horizontal track meanshaving vertically spaced sections with upwardly and downwardly facingtrack surfaces, a movable drawer member including a generally verticaltrack portion and generally horizontal track means having upwardly anddownwardly facing track surfaces, an intermediate member disposedbetween and movable longitudinally relative to said drawer and cabinetmember, a plurality of rollers mounted on said intermediate member forrotation about generally horizontal axes and disposed for engaging theupwardly facing surface of said cabinet member and the downwardly facingtrack surface of the drawer member for supporting said intermediate anddrawer members for movement relative to the cabinet member and eachother, additional roller means mounted on said intermediate member forrotation about generally horizontal axes and disposed for engaging thedownwardly facing track surface of said cabinet member and the upwardlyfacing track surface of said drawer member for preventing saidintermediate and drawer members from tilting longitudinally when theyare moved from retracted positions to extended positions, and aplurality of rollers mounted on said intermediate member for rotationabout generally vertical axes and spaced vertically and longitudinallyof said intermediate member and located at forward, intermediate andrear portions of said intermediate member for engaging vertically andlongitudinally spaced areas of said generally vertical track. portionsof the cabinet and drawer members in all extended and retractedpositions of said intermediate member for maintaining said intermediatemember free from sliding contact with said cabinet and drawer members.

5. A suspension, as defined in claim 4, wherein said upwardly facingtrack surface of the cabinet member includes an upward deflectionengageable with one of said first mentioned rollers rotatable abouthorizontal axes for lifting the intermediate member and thereby liftingthe drawer member when the intermediate and drawer members are inretracted positions, said downwardly facing track surface of said drawermember includes a downwardly inclined portion engageable with another ofsaid first mentioned rollers rotatable about a horizontal axis forfurther lifting said drawer member when the drawer member is inretracted position, and said rollers rotatable about vertical axes beingvertically spaced from said generally horizontal track means so as toavoid interference therewith when the drawer member is lifted.

6. A suspension, as defined in claim 4, wherein said intermediate memberincludes an upstanding web portion and generally horizontal flangesextending from upper and lower margins of said web portion, and whichsuspension includes a plurality of stub shafts secured to, spaced alongand extending inwardly from said flanges, said rollers which arerotatable about vertical axes being rotatably mounted on said stubshafts within said flanges. l

7. A suspension, as defined in claim 6, wherein said flanges aredisposed in opposing relationship, said last mentioned rollers have adiameter greater than the width of said flanges for traversing a spacebetween the vertical track portions of said cabinet and drawer members,and said web portion has openings therein through which said rollersextend for engagement with one of said generally vertical trackportions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,732,472 Hill Oct. 22, 1929 2,032,054 Gussack Feb. 25, 1936 2,564,658Jakeway Aug. 21, 1951 2,687,924 Gomersall Aug. 31, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS480,666 Italy May 9, 1953

